Stories from Wednesday, June 18, 2008

The Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation, a federally-recognized non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial assistance to disadvantaged children in the Rector school system, will host an incredible evening of country music and gospel entertainment on Friday, July 25...

James Harold "Jimmy" Hanna, 55, of Plano, Texas, died Monday, June 9, 2008, at the Vitas In-patient Hospice Unit in Irving, Texas. Hanna was born June 11, 1952, in Piggott, to Harold and Wanda (Gurley) Hanna...

Thomas Ray Gower, 72, of Pollard, died Monday, June 2, 2008, in the Piggott Community Hospital. He was born on March 27, 1936, in Pollard, and was the son of the late Ernest Gower and Florence Nettles Gower Davis...

Memorial services for Robert C. Foster, 79, who died June 6, 2008, in Albuquerque, N.M., were held Friday, June 13, at the Irby Funeral Home Chapel in Piggott. Burial followed in the Cummings Chapel Cemetery at Pollard...

Dewey Don Verni Diggs, 72, of Lakeland, Fla., died Tuesday, June 10, 2008, at the Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Florida. He was born April 1, 1936, at Nimmons, the son of the late Charles Franklin Diggs and Alma Dell (Nation) Diggs...

Billie June Stephens Hon, 82, daughter of the late Zelmar Forrest and Lessie Emma (Webster) Forrest of Poplar Bluff, formerly of Pollard, died Thursday, June 12, 2008, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center...

Ellouise "Jackie" Metheny Rickman, 83, of Athens, Ga., formerly of Piggott, died Saturday, June 14, 2008, in Athens. She was born Sept. 26, 1924, in Pontiac, Mich., the daughter of the late Boyd and Flora Webster Potter...

Darrel Neeley, 62, of Forrest City died suddenly Friday, June 13, 2008, at the Forrest City Medical Center. He was born Sept. 12, 1945, at Boydsville, and was the son of Robert Earl Neeley and Virginia (Ethridge) Neeley. He had lived in Forrest City since 1972. He was a milkman and a member of the New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church at Colt...

1968 Sad news out of Nimmons 40 years ago this past week as it was reported that Jimmy Wayne Parks, 23, was killed in a tractor accident June 14 at Carryville. In other news, Vilas Elder, president of the Piggott Cemetery Association, reported that plans continue for the annual picnic and that this year's crowd is expected to be the largest ever...

This morning I listened to Diane Sawyer and Robin discuss pantyhose. Then I listened to Whoopi and The View gang discuss pantyhose again. You know, the pros and cons of wearing them. It seems that woman is rebelling against wearing them. Women are opting to go barelegged...

Since 1993, Pumpkin Hollow has offered a site based around family fun for visitors of all ages. Owners Darrel and Ellen Dalton have lived and farmed at the site, located southeast of Piggott on County Road 610, since 1969. While they have raised numerous crops since that time, the farm's true legacy would be built upon the strength of its annual pumpkin and gourd crops...

The residents of Clay County have a new protector on patrol. Trooper Clinton Eubanks of the Arkansas State Police (ASP) has been working in Clay County for the last two months. Eubanks resides in Rector and came to the area after spending the last two years serving in Mississippi County...

Clay County Judge Gary Howell has declared June 15 through 21 as 4-H Centennial Promotion Week for Clay County and October 2007 through September 2008 as 4-H Centennial Celebration year in Clay County...

Several Rector business and real estate owners had an opportunity Monday night to meet with officials from the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. Community outreach director Mark Christ and rehabilitation tax credit coordinator Tom Marr came to the Rector city hall for a special meeting...

Robert "Larry" Dukes, 68, of Marmaduke died Saturday, June 14, 2008, at his home. He was born Jan. 7, 1940, in Transylvania, La., to the late C.B. and Letha (Fritch) Dukes and was married Aug. 19, 1961, in Lake Providence, La., to the former Willodean Massey. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Nathan Dowdy...

Rev. George Kelly Jr., 90, of Jonesboro died Saturday, June 14, 2008, at an area hospital. A native of Pennsylvania, Rev. Kelly lived many years at Rector, where he was pastor of Wesleyan Evangelical Methodist Church at Hargrave Corner for 20 years. In addition to Rector, he served as pastor of churches in Pennsylvania and Missouri. He recently moved to Jonesboro after over 20 years in Huntsville, Ala., where he was a member of Calvary Bible Church...

Cooper Mack, 26, of Rogers, son of Rector native John Mack and his wife, Harriet, died Tuesday, June 3, 2008, succumbing to an advanced acute leukemia. He emerged as one of the most talented young architects with an exceptionally original mind for the arts. He was and always will be a man of extraordinary ability who lived a short but extraordinary life...

Charles Douglas Matheny, 75, of California, Mo., a native of Boydsville, died Tuesday, June 10, 2008, at Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City, Mo. He was born April 3, 1933, in Boydsville, the oldest son of Orville Ray and Evelyn Faye Simpson Matheny, who preceded him in death...

Willo Mae McKeel, 90, of Rector, died Friday, June 13, 2008. Born Feb. 27, 1918, in Lafe to the late Charlie "C.O." and Rosa Lee Webb, she was a homemaker. She also was preceded in death by two sons, John Franklin and Jimmy McKeel, and one brother, Fred Webb. Survivors include her husband, James C. ...

The residents of Clay County have a new protector on patrol. Trooper Clinton Eubanks of the Arkansas State Police (ASP) has been working in Clay County for the last two months. Eubanks resides in Rector and came to the area after spending the last two years serving in Mississippi County...

The U.S. Supreme Court's narrow 5-4 ruling last week upholding the concept of habeas corpus was, of course, specifically welcome news for the hundreds who have been held without being charged at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba...

This morning I listened to Diane Sawyer and Robin discuss pantyhose. Then I listened to Whoopi and The View gang discuss pantyhose again. You know, the pros and cons of wearing them. It seems that woman is rebelling against wearing them. Women are opting to go barelegged...

He once declared he had "won life's lottery" when he had achieved the pinnacle of his generation in bringing practical journalism to the people he loved. He had been born in Buffalo, of laboring parents who adhered to the strict Catholic faith one still finds among the American Irish...

Hughey and Mary Linam are well-known for the high levels of energy they possess even into their golden years. Not only has the couple operated their own upholstery business for 42 years, they also maintain one of the most meticulously kept yards and gardens in Rector...

A short Quorum Court meeting was held at the Corning courthouse Monday night. The meeting was essentially cancelled due to the absences of justices David Cagle, Greg Ahrent, Doyne Holifield and Tripley Muse...

It was a banner season for the Glen Sain nine and ten-year-old baseball team. The squad started off on the right foot, winning the Rector Preseason Tournament. The youngsters never looked back from their hot start, finishing the season with an unblemished 19-0 record...